January 06, 2022
3 min read
The Healio and Endocrine Today editors have compiled the top news about diabetes from 2021.
Readers were most interested in learning about how an intermittent very low-calorie diet may lower glucose levels, the benefits of a once-monthly monoclonal antibody for people with obesity and diabetes, how insulin could produce an anti-inflammatory effect in people with severe COVID-19 and more.
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Here are 10 of Healio’s most-read diabetes stories from 2021.
Intermittent very low-calorie diet lowers glucose levels in adults with obesity, diabetes
Eating an intermittent very low-calorie diet either 2 or 4 days per week was associated with lower glucose levels in a cohort of adults with obesity and diabetes, according to a study published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation. Additionally, nearly 30% of the participants consuming a very low-calorie diet achieved diabetes remission at 20 weeks.
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Once-monthly monoclonal antibody reduces body fat, increases muscle in obesity, diabetes
Adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity assigned a once-monthly monoclonal antibody infusion experienced a marked decrease in fat mass and gains in muscle vs. those assigned placebo, according to findings from a phase 2 study published in JAMA Network Open. Participants who took bimagrumab, a human monoclonal antibody that blocks activin type II receptors and stimulates muscle growth, had a 20.5% loss in fat mass and 3.6% increase in lean mass at 48 weeks.
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Insulin, corticosteroids may produce additive anti-inflammatory effect in severe COVID-19
An IV insulin infusion could produce an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic action in people hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a review published in Diabetes Care. Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, and Husam Ghanim, PhD, wrote that IV insulin combined with dexamethasone could improve clinical outcomes for people with severe COVID-19.
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Walmart launches first and only private brand analog insulin
In July, Walmart announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk to launch the first-ever private brand analog insulin, with prices as much as 75% lower than branded insulin products. In a perspective, Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES, FADCES, said the announcement gives people with diabetes an additional lower-cost option for obtaining insulin.
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Vegan diet provides most health benefits among plant-based eating patterns
A presenter at the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists virtual meeting shared why a vegan diet may provide more health benefits than other plant-based eating patterns. According to Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, MBA, vegetarian and vegan diets provide larger reductions in body weight, fat mass and LDL cholesterol, and improve insulin sensitivity more than other eating patterns such as the Mediterranean diet.
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FDA clears novel smart cap for insulin pens
In May, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance for a first-of-its-kind connected smart cap for insulin pens. The Bigfoot Unity diabetes management system features smart caps that are integrated with the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 system and can translate continuous glucose monitoring data into on-demand insulin dose recommendations. The system is compatible with all major U.S. brands of rapid- and long-acting disposable insulin pens.
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Noninvasive glucose monitoring may change future of diabetes management
Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring products may become important tools for people with diabetes in the near future. In a review article published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, David C. Klonoff, MD, discussed how more than 60 noninvasive and minimally invasive glucose monitoring products are currently available or in development and what hurdles need to be overcome for the devices to be used by a large segment of the diabetes population.
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FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation for novel type 1 diabetes pill
In April, the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for TTP399, an investigational oral, once-daily glucokinase activator, as an adjunctive therapy to insulin for type 1 diabetes. Findings from a phase 2 trial revealed TTP399 reduced HbA1c over a period of 12 weeks when added to optimized insulin therapy. TTP399 also demonstrated a favorable safety profile.
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Insulinemic and inflammatory diets increase type 2 diabetes risk for postmenopausal women
Eating a high proinflammatory or hyperinsulinemic diet may increase the risk for postmenopausal women to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Diabetes Care. In an analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative, postmenopausal women who were in the highest quintile for eating a hyperinsulinemic or proinflammatory diet have a higher likelihood for developing type 2 diabetes compared with those in the lowest quintile.
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Diabetes drugs now ‘pillars of care’ for heart failure
Heart failure and type 2 diabetes are intertwined, and together can accelerate debilitating outcomes for patients. Until recently, cardiologists and endocrinologists had few options for treating these patients. However, since the 2015 EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, data has shown SGLT2 inhibitors may be the key for treating existing heart failure, even for people without diabetes.
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